Out of sorts Sol adds to Wenger's woes

ARSENAL have left Sol Campbell out of their squad for tomorrow's match at Birmingham.

The England defender was responsible for both West Ham's first-half goals, at Highbury, where the Hammers won 3-2, and was substituted at half-time.

Campbell left the stadium during the match and was given yesterday off by the club. Discussing the 31-year-old, Wenger said that Campbell's absence would leave him short of options at the back, given Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue remain on African Nations Cup duty.

"Sol Campbell won't play. I don't think Kerrea Gilbert will be ready so there is not a lot to choose from. We don't have any defenders coming back. I don't know what I'll do about it at the moment, I must think. Do I put Gilberto there or keep Flamini at the back? I don't know."

Wenger admitted he could understand Campbell's decision to head away from Highbury, given the "exceptional circumstances."

There were few positives to take from the defeat, despite captain Thierry Henry toe-poking in his 151st league goal, bettering Cliff Bastin's long-standing record. And with his defensive options now further limited by a back problem to youngster Gilbert and the experienced Lauren facing possible surgery on a knee injury, Wenger may field an unfamiliar rearguard.

Lauren is waiting to discover whether he will be ruled out for the rest of the season. It had been suggested the Cameroon right-back, 29, would be sidelined for around a month. However, Wenger fears the problem may be more serious.

Wenger had already brought in former Gunner Martin Keown, 39, to help out with some defensive coaching duties, but rejected the suggestion he would look to put the veteran back into his playing squad.

Wenger had called on skipper Henry to "trust" the club and agree a new deal before the end of the season in the build up to Wednesday's game.

Negotiations over a reported five-year contract worth an estimated £100,000-a-week are ongoing, but clearly Arsenal's performances on the pitch will not currently be able to put much pressure on their captain, who wants the club to match his own high sporting ambitions.

Although they still have a game in hand on many of the sides above them, the sixth-placed Gunners now face an uphill battle to break into the top four, and with it secure Champions League football again next season, when they will move into a new, 60,000-seater stadium.

Although no-one is yet giving up the chase, the importance of a strong finish to the campaign is not lost on the players.

Despite being depleted by injuries, suspensions and international duty, Wenger has at least been boosted by the inclusion of teenager Theo Walcott in training after he was given a break following his £12.5m transfer move from Southampton.